Through its pervasive use in social media apps like Instagram and Twitter, the word “goal” and its plural, “goals,” have become synonymous with “I wish I had that” With the simple addition of a hashtag (i.e, #goal or #goals), a once-admirable concept has become devalued, and cliché. The hashtag version of “Goal” could refer to a picture of an attractive couple or the sculpted physique of an athlete. But we are just as likely to see a designer handbag or pair of shoes tagged “#goal.”

Goals don’t necessarily “do” anything, but they are widely regarded as a positive thing to have. People with goals work hard toward achieving something. Goals help people focus their efforts and attention on worthy accomplishments and meaningful purposes. People who consciously set goals for themselves are often perceived as more productive and more successful than their peers. Depending on the goal, some people also find satisfaction and some degree of happiness as a result of setting and working toward their goals.

This is much different than #goals. While #goals may have once carried the meaning of the original word, its overuse has diluted its significance enormously. Instagram and Twitter users tend to use #goals like a label (or tag) that indicates they want what they see – whether it’s a photo that portrays a touching moment between two people or a leather sofa. The difference between the casual activity of typing #goal, and the process of setting and working toward goals and is like water and wine. Unintentionally, that little hashtag reduces something worth striving for, to an activity similar to window-shopping.

This sort of “window shopping” focuses people entirely on what they think they lack, whether that is a slim body, material goods, or an attractive partner. Instead of providing inspiration, #goals signify envy and carry all the resentment and self-deprecation that envy engenders in us.

And it is common. “#Goal” is so overused. it has become as inane as smiley face emojis. The word no longer represents aspirations. It is automatically typed beneath any post on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter that people think is “nice” (another word that was devalued by its overuse).

Whether it signifies users’ envy or just mild approval, #goal drives no action. #Goals do not gather our focus, and a #goal doesn’t provide motivation. In fact, in its trendy hashtagged form, “goals” have the opposite effect. A #goal is not important enough to strive for. While real goals are worth working for and can provide lasting benefit, #goals are superficial and worth no more effort than it takes to type six letters.

Why should any of this matter? After all, it’s just a word, right? I believe it matters very much. Any time 10s of thousands of people stop working toward a worthy achievement and replace that pursuit with a passive (some would say mindless) diversion, the world is robbed of their energy and achievements. Ultimately, we are all diminished by the failure of others to find their focus and work toward their inspiration.

For example, what would Vincent van Gogh’s body of work resemble had he spent his time on social media, rather than striving to create his uniquely moving art? What if Jonas Salk had typed “OMG #goal,” beneath an online photo of a well-equipped laboratory, instead of focusing his effort on developing the polio vaccine?

Salik and van Gogh had goals, not #goals. Unlike #goals, their goals and others like them, have benefitted individuals and society since the dawn of humankind. It’s a concept that works. We won’t all find the cure for deadly diseases or create enduring works of art, but by setting and striving for goals we at least grow as individuals -- and that is enough.

Unfortunately, we will never know many medical breakthroughs will go undiscovered, or how many people will one day look back on their lives and realize their biggest life achievement was the number of pictures they tagged with “#goal.” But that is the sad outcome of too many misspent hours seeking #goals online versus. pursuing life goals out in the world where our efforts are rewarded with accomplishments of real value.